-
W
- Fashion
League of Nations
From an American expat living in Malawi to a Beijing-born Australian based in London, the latest crop of stylemakers is bringing a multi-culti flair to the fashion landscape.
January 2012
Maiyet
The idea of luxury fashion as a conduit for social and economic change
might be a rather tough sell. But in the hands of Paul van Zyl, a South
African human rights lawyer who worked under Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
and Kristy Caylor (inset), previously the president of Band of Outsiders
and a Gap alum, the concept has wings. Maiyet, their new label, debuted
for spring 2012 and enlists artisans and companies in countries as
disparate as Colombia and India to produce ready-to-wear, jewelry, and
accessories. The work helps bring stability and financial welfare to
needy communities, and a portion of the profits goes toward training
artisans. Van Zyl and Caylor traveled the world for six months, sourcing
wax-cast jewelers in Medellín, Colombia; block printers in
Jaipur, India; and silk jacquard weavers in West Java, Indonesia. The
results are more minimal than one might expect: airy bilevel silk
dresses, bright midriff-baring ensembles, and relaxed sheer jackets in
muted shades (maiyet.com).—Vanessa Lawrence
January 2012
More Fashion
